Gharungwa Lhai Gyeltsen

CHINA, Tibet, Gyantse

Gharungwa Lhai Gyeltsen was a painter and sculptor, who, at the age of five, was ordained as a novice monk at Kumbumtang Monastery. He studied numerous Buddhist topics such as Prajnaparamita, Abhidharma, and texts including Bodhisattvacaryavatara, the Hevajra Tantra, and the Bodhisattva Trilogy. He also learned under many great masters including Rinchen Sangpo from Pelteng Monastery, Jamyang Chokyi Gyaltsen from Sakya Monastery and Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen in Jonang Monastery. He later taught for several years in Gharung Monastery where he served as abbot.
According to inscriptions written on the murals in Palcho Monastery, Gharungwa Lhai Gyeltsen produced a number of the sculptures at the Kumbum Stupa of the monastery. These included sculptures in the Niadanda Shrine on the first level, the Amoghavajra Shrine on the second level, the Avalokitesvara Shrine, the Manjusri Shrine, the Tara Shrine, and the Vajrasana Sakyamuni Shrine south of the fifth level. It was also recorded that the murals of the Wisdom Shrine on the fourth level were painted by him.